NCJ Number
168489
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 21 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1997) Pages: 911-927
Date Published
1997
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Fifty-nine adults in France who were at least age 23, had been raised in foster families for at least 5 years, and had been out of care for more than 5 years were studied to determine the long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences resulting from family breakdowns combined with stable care settings.
Abstract
The research also sought to determine predictive factors for maladjusted psychosocial functioning in adulthood. Data were collected mainly by means of semi-structured interviews. The research focused on adult professional status and social and family relationships. Results revealed that the majority of the participants had managed to overcome their childhood adversities. Fifty-six percent were well integrated socially, 12 percent were average, 20 percent were partially integrated, and 10 percent were in situations of failure. Their difficulties were linked to multiple family disturbances and repeated traumatic experiences during childhood. Multiple regression analyses indicated that these risk factors accounted for 28 percent of the variance in the social integration score. Severe emotional deprivation over a prolonged period was a contributing factor to clinical disorders. Findings indicated that the satisfactory social integration and good general health of the majority of participants was linked to the stability of the care environment and the substantial backup support they received from the social service agency involved. Tables, appended methodological information and table, and 43 references (Author abstract modified)